What do you do to maintain your chickens.

[SilkieMom0406]

Hey y´all! I am just wondering how you take care of your chickens because I am getting chickens soon. Are there any recommendations on maintaining these wonder-foul creatures?

 

[GodLovesU]

Here’s a good place to get some beginner tips:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-raise-chickens.47660/

 

[SilverBirds]

I would start by doing some reading over in the Learning Center. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

 

[SilkieMom0406]

Thank you!

 

[Mrs. K]

When I was first getting started, somehow I hooked up with on line, a very prominent breeder. I asked him what he fed his birds expecting some exotic recipe. He told me good standard commercial feed. They have scientist studying and producing an excellent recipe.

Good feed, clean water, shelter and you should be set!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

... and grit, and oyster shell, once they start laying.

 

[SourRoses]

When I'm talking to someone in person about keeping chickens (the other day it was my dentist ) my brain tries to offer up the condensed version...

* HW Cloth (pedators / no to chicken wire).
* Space (Chicks are like a bag of popcorn, be ready).
* 20% protein feed, minimize treats (fat).
* Ventilation (gases / hot / moisture).
* Nice breeds / individuals (makes a big difference in the keeping experience).

 

[FrostRanger]

When I'm talking to someone in person about keeping chickens (the other day it was my dentist ) my brain tries to offer up the condensed version...

* HW Cloth (pedators / no to chicken wire).
* Space (Chicks are like a bag of popcorn, be ready).
* 20% protein feed, minimize treats (fat).
* Ventilation (gases / hot / moisture).
* Nice breeds / individuals (makes a big difference in the keeping experience).

Excellent post!
The only things I'd add to that list are make sure there's clutter in the run (stuff to break line of sight between birds if needed and multiple feeders and waterers. Both of those things will reduce the chance of bullying in your flock in addition to what SourRoses said

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Good feed, water, secure run and shelter. The way Grandmom did it and hasn't failed me yet.

 

[NatJ]

Hey y´all! I am just wondering how you take care of your chickens because I am getting chickens soon. Are there any recommendations on maintaining these wonder-foul creatures?

Daily care: dump & refill waterer, check feeder and refill as needed. Check that grit and oyster shell containers are not empty. Collect eggs. If nestboxes or coop need more bedding, add some.

Less often: remove dirty bedding, put in some fresh bedding. This might be weekly or monthly, or you might add fresh bedding frequently and clean the whole thing out once or twice a year.

If you have a poop board under the roosts, or sand for bedding in the coop, scoop any droppings daily. Some people like doing this little bit each day, other people prefer to use other methods of manure management and do a bigger job less often.

As needed: repair or replace anything that breaks. This shouldn't happen often if you got it set up well in the first place.

As needed: buy new chicks, hatch eggs, rehome or butcher older chickens.


Almost everything else I would consider to be part of the initial setup rather than regular maintenance. That would include predator-proof housing, enough space, good ventilation, all details of how the space is arranged (roosts higher than nests, multiple feed & water locations, things for chickens to sit on or hide behind in the run, etc.)